Department Overview

Cornwall Rescue 1 is a heavy rescue that can also serve as a command center and personnel transport etc. It has a 10kw onboard generator for scene lighting, running power tools and supplying electricity for certain types of operations. It carries a variety of tools and equipment used for firefighting and rescue operations. It carries the Hurst E-tool – which is an all-electric, battery powered extrication tool system – commonly referred to as the jaws of life, cribbing, scene lighting, maps, hazmat reference materials, an 8,000 psi cascade system to refill self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) aka air-packs, on a scene. Rescue 1 has a full complement of spare portable radios that are charged and ready to be used when needed. It carries six air packs and two spare SCBA bottles. It also carries equipment for swift water, ice and trail rescue. The rear interior compartment is capable of seating for transport, four fully equipped firefighters wearing SCBA plus three additional personnel in the cab.

Cornwall Tanker 30 carries 3000 gallons of water and has a Hale Qmax 1500 GPM single stage pump. It’s primary function is water supply and to deliver water to the attack engine at a scene. It carries a portable pond that when deployed, holds 3000 gallons of water. It carries a large diameter hose load of 1000’. Tanker 30 also carries a newly acquired Holley Transfer Pipe (Holley Tube) to be used when multiple portable ponds are in use and is used for large scale water supply operations. It is the number two apparatus for an incident at the school and will connect to and supply Cornwall 2-0 with water from the fire pond across from the West Cornwall Firehouse.

Cornwall Ambulance is a purpose-built vehicle designed to respond to a variety of trauma or medical emergencies. Some of the most important equipment on the ambulance include the AED, chest compression system, cardiac monitor, stair chair, and stretcher. The LIFEPAK CR2 Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is used in the event of a cardiac arrest to assess the patient’s cardiac rhythm and deliver electricity to the patient. This is a state-of-the-art device that is used in conjunction with our PhysioControl LUCAS 3 Chest Compression System. The LUCAS delivers consistent mechanical compressions. The ZOLL X Series Monitor/defibrillator provides real time cardiac activity data to EMS personnel who are then able to promptly transmit results to hospitals electronically via cellular or Wi-Fi. The Stryker Stair-PRO and Power-LOAD are devices used to transport patients to the ambulance. The Stair-PRO is a piece of equipment that carries patients in a seated position up or down a flight of stairs or through a narrow space. The Stryker Power-LOAD stretcher is an electromechanical stretcher and loading system that does much of the heavy lifting for the EMS personnel by positioning the stretcher in an appropriate position to safely load and unload a patient from the ambulance. The height of the stretcher can be adjusted with the touch of a button. The Power-LOAD system mechanically lifts the patient into the ambulance. The Cornwall Ambulance inventory list has many pages listing the equipment and supplies carried on board the Ambulance, in accordance with standards set by the State of Connecticut Department of Health. The inventory is checked weekly. A few examples of patient care equipment carried on the Ambulance are supplies for the oxygen delivery and suction, splinting, wound care, joint immobilization, childbirth, thermometers, glucometers, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, and personal protective items. Equipment used on scene are binoculars, fire extinguishers, flashlights, seatbelt cutters, life vests/personal flotation devices, and portable radio. A particularly important piece of equipment is the KnoxBox, which is a system that allows the CVFD EMS to gain access to buildings while maintaining the integrity of the security of the building. These are a few examples of the vast inventory and equipment that are onboard the Cornwall Ambulance.

Cornwall Utility 5 is a multi-purpose vehicle capable of carrying six personnel and is set up as a brush fire fighting vehicle during the non-winter months. Utility five is also used to tow various trailers including the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trailer, hazmat trailer and the Zodiac Rescue Boat.

Truck 4 has a four-speed manual transmission with a two-speed transfer case with a power takeoff (PTO) provision to run implements and a front mount winch. This truck is primarily used as an off-road vehicle for brush and forest fires. Its payload includes a 100 gallon water tank and pump with a booster reel, forestry tools such as rakes, brooms and Indian tanks.

Cornwall Rescue Boat has a 30 hp Evinrude E -Tec engine with a RESCUEPRO pump jet lower unit. It is 13‘5“ long with a beam of 6‘3“. It has an eight-person capacity or a total of 2028 pounds. It is designed and built to operate in harsh environments such as the Housatonic river. In addition to water rescues this platform has participated in delivering personnel and equipment to brushfires in remote locations that were more easily accessible by water.

a) Honda Foreman 400 ATV is a 390 cc all-terrain vehicle. CVFD uses this ATV as a multipurpose transport and utility vehicle.

b)Bombardier Traxter is a 550 cc all-terrain vehicle capable of carrying two people. CVFD uses this ATV as a multipurpose transport and utility vehicle. Both ATVs have been used for search and rescue, forest fire fighting and moving both personnel and equipment around any number and variety of scenes.

The hazmat trailer carries an assortment of hazardous material (hazmat) response equipment including floating booms, absorbent pads, curtain booms, decontamination equipment and supplies. The trailer carries enough rope to span the river at least two times. The trailer also contains gear for firefighters to make an initial operational response to a hazmat incident. High angle rope rescue equipment and a new ice rescue sled are stored at the West Cornwall Firehouse. This equipment is mobile and can be loaded onto vehicles to be deployed to a scene as necessary.